Monday, January 31, 2005

Why Are Easements Targeted?

The battle to save conservation easements has begun, but I think it's safe to say the Land Trusts appear to be a bit shell shocked so far. There has been much conversation about the best strategy for fighting back, who should do the fighting and searching for friends in Congress. One overwhelming reaction so far has been, why are easements being targeted? I think I know the answer. Because they're an easy target. Why easy?
For clues, look at the staff summary at the beginning of the Joint Committee Report. First the committee was launched at the request of Senators Charles Grassley and Max Baucus. If you go back and read the Washington Post coverage of the Senate investigation following the Post investigative series on The Nature Conservancy, it's clear that both men were plenty ticked off at a perception that TNC was not being fully forthcoming. Grassley is quoted as saying " "I expect it will become even more clear that reforms to existing law should accompany any new incentives for taxpayers to donate land for conservation." Then the article continues Grassley is sponsor of a bill backed by the Conservancy that passed the Senate earlier this year and which would provide hundreds of millions of dollars in new conservation tax breaks." So Grassley sponsored the bill to expand the tax breaks, then gets embarrassed when the Post comes out with all the reports of abuses.
Among the staff marching orders, you find this paragraph; "Valuation issues....in the context of charitable contributions.... are a common source of noncompliance. The report contains several proposals to resolve valuation controversies in a simpler and more administrable way.” Everyone agrees that determining the fair value of easements is subjective, complicated and generally beyond the expertise of the IRS. So given the choice between taking the time intensive steps of codifying some version of the LTA's Land trust standards or just essentially getting rid of easements, the staff chose the easy out. Lose the easements.
Finally, you have a Congress that faces a huge budget deficit with a mandate that it can't raise taxes. What's the only other way to raise money? Close loopholes. The committee claims making the changes to easements can raise 1 billion dollars over 10 years.
So add it all together. 1) A ticked off, embarrassed boss, 2) a search for simplicity and 3) strong, strong pressure to raise revenues without raising taxes = conservation easements as roadkill.
What to do?The LTA has come out with an outline for a letter to Congress that it suggests be modified by each trust and its supporter and mailed immediately. Interestingly (at least to me) the LTA is the only national trust group that I can find that has even mentioned the report. Not a peep from The Nature Conservancy on its website. (I imagine all the talking is being done behind closed doors)
Also, trusts are being urged to come up with a single page of talking points in support of easements, and get them to their congressional delegation ASAP.
So who should the groups target for help? People with real experience in Washington will know better, but here are my outsider suggestions and guesses.
First, I think a fairly high level group of national leaders should go before Grassley and Baucus, kowtow on the floor and beg forgiveness. If those two remain truly angry, they've probably got the muscle to get this one through, no matter how many letters are written.
Second, target the committees on each side. In the Senate, it's the Finance committee, and I'm guessing this is the right subcommittee.

Kyl, Jeffords and Snowe might be sympathetic ears. Snowe particularly because Maine is a huge Land Trust state.

The House side is a little more difficult to figure, because as I read it, the subcommittees get whatever the Chairman decides they should have. The Ways and Means chairman is Bill Thomas (R) from Bakersfield, CA. Agriculture is big there, so Farm Trusts might have some pull with him. Committee member Thomas Reynolds (R) NY has been mentioned as possibly sympathetic. Other sympathetics might be Mark Foley (R) FL, Nancy Johnson (R) CT and Bob Beauprez (R) CO. If anyone knows of others, please speak up.

Finally, this really does have to be the wake-up call for trusts to do everything they can to stop all easement abuses. In fact, the horse may be out of the barn on this one. The next few months will tell.

Hi, I was just blog surfing and found you! If you are interested, go see my business home idea stay related site. It pretty much covers business home idea stay stuff. I guess you may find something of interest.

Wow nice page there...Hi, I am in Reno Nevada. I do web pages for a living. I am offering my marketing advise to you free of charge... The only thing I ask in return is that you allow me to post a few links on this blogsite. The links go to a web page with news and information aboutReno Nevada Real Estate:and it has all the Reno Homes For Sale. The site is:Reno Real Estate Market. It has Reno - Lake Tahoe Homes for sale by all Reno Realtors, no favorites. It also has homes listed for sale by owners, 360* guided tour views; every home in Reno and Lake Tahoe For Sale! They even have a total listing for:Reno Landwith new postings daily,land for sale in Reno can make you a million bucks. Reno Nevada has many beautiful luxury homes! Check out Reno Luxury Homes For Sale. Thank you so much. Rememeber send me your links of your own, and remember if you need me, my free advise for web design or internet marketing is there for you if you ever need it. My web design company in Reno Nevada isReno SEO

Hello there, how are things there? I design web pages in Reno Nevada. I like what you did here. I can help you anytime if you ever get stuck doing updates or if you want to learn to make money with this blog. The only thing I ask in return is post a few links on this site from me. It's about Reno Homes For Sale. I also have the best link to Reno Land For Sale updated every day. By the way, Reno Nevada real estate prices are still making millionaires everyday! Check out Reno Nevada Luxury Homes For Sale. Take care, if you need my web design company it's Reno SEO

Hi , I have a company in Reno Nevada that does ecommerce marketing and web pages. I am offering my expertise to you free... The only thing I ask in return is post a few links on this site from me. The web site is about Reno Nevada Real Estate:Reno Homes For Sale. The site called Reno Real Estate Market. It features all the best Reno - Lake Tahoe Homes for sale, 360* views; every house in Reno and Lake Tahoe For Sale! They even have a total listing for:Reno Land For Sale new posted land for saleevery day. Reno Nevada is not a cowboy town anymore, there are tons of luxury homes! Check out Reno Luxury Homes For Sale. Thank for your help, send me your links, and remember if you need me, my free advise for web design or marketing is there if you ever need it. My web design company isReno SEO Thank you so much for your help!

I like your blog...Hi, I am a web designer. I do web pages for a living. I am offering my marketing advise to you free of charge... The only thing I ask in return is that you allow me to post a few links on this blogsite. The links go to a web page aboutReno Nevada Real Estate.It has all the Reno Homes For Sale listed on the MLS. The site is:Reno Real Estate Market. It has Reno - Lake Tahoe Homes for sale by all Reno Realtors, no favorites. It also has homes listed for sale by owners, 360* guided tour views; every home in Reno and Lake Tahoe For Sale! They even have a total listing for:Reno Landwith new postings daily,land for sale in Reno can make you a million bucks. Reno Nevada has many beautiful luxury homes! Check out Reno Luxury Homes For Sale. Thank you so much for your help.

Hi how are you!, I have a company in Reno Nevada that does ecommerce marketing and web pages. I am offering my expertise to you free... The only thing I ask in return is post a few links on this site from me. The web site is an unbiased look intoReno Nevada Real Estate:Reno Homes For Sale. The site is:Reno Real Estate Market. It posted all the Reno - Lake Tahoe Homes for sale by all Reno Realtors, It also has homes listed for sale by owners, 360* guided tour views; every home in Reno and Lake Tahoe For Sale! They even have a total listing for:Reno Land new posting pop up daily, new millions are made everyday onland for sale. Reno Nevada has exploded in the last five years from a cowboy casino town to a town of luxury homes! Check out Reno Luxury Homes For Sale. Thank you so much for your help. Feel free to send me your links of your own, and remember if you need me, my free advise for web design or marketing is there if you ever need it. My web design company isReno SEO Thank you so much for your help!

Great blog you have! I really enjoyed it. I heard of a great site that is giving away a free set of Nike Golf Clubs. I think your readers will enjoy it. Just click the link below and enter your Zip Code to see if you qualify!Free Nike Golf Clubs!

I would personally like to ask you to join my site its a forum about making money online , affiliate programs etc... your a good writer , hope to see you there maybe you can learn too how to make extra cash.

hello, your blog is interesting to read, I have a website about internet marketing, it should be helpful to you in making more web money. This is a global trend that more and more people can make a living online, so make sure you visit it.

Hello - Great blog on tennessee purchase mortgage loans. Keep up the good work. I also have a tennessee purchase mortgage loans site that I think would interest your readers. Stop by if you get a chance

There I was browsing for information on discount golf club when I came acrosss your site, whilst we dont exactly match for my discount golf clubI sure enjoyed the read.Its amazing what you find whilst you are browsing.I have bookmarked your siteKeep up the good work.

Hi, thanks so much for every little bit of information you have provided here. I constantly look up all information concerning how to start an internet business I'm amazed by how much I can earn online :-) Thanks again. how to start an internet business

While venturing into the world of online business, it is indeed primarily important for you to get hold of efficient ecommerce solutions that are likely to pay dividends for you and if you have not discovered a top-notch ecommerce solution providing company till now, you are suggested to come in touch with http://www.infyecommercesolution.com instantly. Your search ends right here with Infinity and with the cheap and effective ecommerce packages provided by the company, you would surely scale the heights of online business in no time.